Systems and methods for managing communications between vehicles
Systems and methods for increasing the efficiency of vehicle platooning systems are described. In one aspect, drivers are more likely to enjoy a system if it begins platooning as desired and does not accidently end platoons. When a certain amount of data packets sent between vehicles are dropped, systems typically will either not engage in a platoon or end a current platoon. When a platoon has a very small gap between vehicles, the platoon should end—or not start, when a certain amount of packets are dropped. However, if a gap is large enough to provide a driver with more time to react, a system may accept a greater amount of dropped packets before it refuses to start a platoon or causes the end of a platoon.
1. A system for managing platoonable vehicles comprising:
a computer processor; and
a platoon control module executing on the computer processor and configured to enable the computer processor to:
establish a wireless link between a first vehicle and a second vehicle;
attempt to start a draw-in portion of a platooning engagement between the first vehicle and the second vehicle;
in response to receiving at least a threshold amount of packets per a period of time over the wireless link:
(1) cause the first vehicle and the second vehicle to start the draw-in portion of the platooning engagement; or
(2) continue a steady state portion of the platooning engagement; and
in response to receiving less than the threshold amount of packets per a period of time over the wireless link:
(1) cause the first vehicle and the second vehicle to not start the draw-in portion of the platooning engagement; or
(2) start the dissolve portion of the platooning engagement.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the threshold amount of packets is based at least in part on a distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the threshold amount of packets includes a threshold amount of non-corrupt packets.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the packets are safety critical.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless link is one of a plurality of wireless links between the first vehicle and the second vehicle.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first vehicle and the second vehicle is an electric vehicle.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first vehicle and the second vehicle is a hybrid vehicle.
8. A system for managing platoonable vehicles comprising:
a computer processor; and
a platoon control module executing on the computer processor and configured to enable the computer processor to:
transmit data packets over a wireless link between a first vehicle and a second vehicle; and
perform an action in response to receiving: (1) less than a threshold amount of data packets per an amount of time over the wireless link; (2) data packets at rate below a threshold rate over the wireless link; or (3) data packets with a latency below a threshold latency over the wireless link.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the action performed includes one or more of:
(1) causing the first vehicle and the second vehicle to not start a draw-in portion of a platooning engagement; or
(2) starting a dissolve portion of the platooning engagement.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the threshold amount of data packets per an amount of time is based at least in part on a distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle.
11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the threshold rate is based at least in part on a distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle.
12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the threshold latency is based at least in part on a distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle.
13. A system for managing platoonable vehicles comprising:
a computer processor; and
a platoon control module executing on the computer processor and configured to enable the computer processor to:
establish a wireless link between a first vehicle and a second vehicle;
attempt to start a draw-in portion of a platooning engagement between the first vehicle and the second vehicle;
in response to receiving a first amount of packets per an amount of time over the wireless link at a first location, cause a first action to occur including:
(1) causing the first vehicle and the second vehicle to start the draw-in portion of the platooning engagement;
(2) continuing a steady state portion of the platooning engagement;
(3) causing the first vehicle and the second vehicle to not start the draw-in portion of the platooning engagement; or
(4) starting a dissolve portion of the platooning engagement; and
in response to receiving a second amount of packets per an amount of time over the wireless link at a second location, cause a second action to occur including:
(1) causing the first vehicle and the second vehicle to start the draw-in portion of the platooning engagement;
(2) continuing a steady state portion of the platooning engagement;
(3) causing the first vehicle and the second vehicle to not start the draw-in period of the platooning engagement; or
(4) starting the dissolve portion of the platooning engagement.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first amount of packets and the second amount of packets are the same amount of packets.
15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first location is at a first chip, and wherein the second location is at a second chip.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the second location is configured to unpack packets that are safety critical.
17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first location is configured to unpack packets that are not safety critical.
18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first location is at a first ECU, and wherein the second location is at a second ECU.
19. The system of claim 13 , wherein the second amount of packets is greater than the first amount of packets.
20. The system of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first vehicle and the second vehicle is an electric or hybrid vehicle.